Cavitational Deterioration of Diesel Power Plant Cylinder Liner

Abstract

The generating station in which diesel engine is used as a prime mover for generating electrical energy is known as diesel power plant. The cylinders liner are cylindrical component that are fixed inside the engine block. The function of the cylinder liners is to retain the working fluid and to guide the piston. Most diesel power plant uses wet-cylinder liners that are exposed to intensive cavitation. The paper aimed at studying the behavior of the cylinder liners that can lead to cavitation. The analysis involves, modeling and simulation in using Solidworks Software. The analysis shows that the cylinders are subjected to harmonic vibration resulting to momentary separation of the coolant from the cylinder wall, creating a pressure difference around the coolant surface which forms air bubbles. These bubbles explode at an extreme velocity. The explosion of these bubbles release surface energy known as cavitation. The energy hammers the cylinder liner surface thereby removing minute particles of metal from the surface of the vibrating cylinder leading to cavitational deterioration. The paper hereby calls on automotive designers to take critical measures in designing of; cylinder liner, water jacket and the entire cooling system, in order to control this phenomenon.